Record controlled indicating mechanism



April 7, 1942. R. B. JOHNSON RECORD CONTROLLED INDICATING MECHANISMFiled Jan. 23, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l g) INVflE'NTOZ ATTORNEY April 7,1942; R. B. JOHNSON 4 RECORD CONTROLLED INDICATING MECHANISM Filed Jan.23, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY April 7, 1942- R. B. JOHNSON2,278,993

RECORD CONTROLLED INDICATING MEICHANISM Filed Jan. 23, 1940 4Sheets-Sheet 5 lllllll ATTORNEY April 7, 1942- R. B. JOHNSON RECORDCONTROLLED INDICATING MECHANISM 4 SheetsSheet 4 Filed Jan. 23, 1940 (KLTEE' I INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 7, 1942 Reynold B. Johnson,

Binghamton, N. Y., assignor to International Business MachinesComration, New York N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January23, 1940, Serial No. 315,176

r Claims. (01. 171-331) This invention relates to data indicatingdevices for record card controlled tabulating machines and moreparticularly to a device arranged in the form of an attachment for usewith commercial machines.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple mechanism in the formof an independent unit which may be controlled by perforated recordcards to give a visual indication of data values in successivelyadvanced record cards.

A more specific object is to provide such a device in which theprinciples of a stroboscope are employed. The device comprises a set ofdigit representing contacts for each card column. which sets of contactsare settable under control of a card to represent the value of theperiorations sensed as the card passes a sensing position in thetabulating machine. A drum is provided with openings about its peripheryconfigured to represent the digits and, as the drum is rotated. thedigits are presented in succession to a sight or reading line. A lampwithin the drum is controlled by the contacts to repeatedly flash forthe instant that any selected digit on the drum is at the reading line.With the speed of the drum greater than 16 revolutions a second, arepeated flashing of the lamp once for each time a digit mat the readingline, the selected digit will appear to be stationary and constantlyilluminated due to the persistence of vision of an observer.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the followingdescription and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which disclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention andthe best mode, which has been contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showing the card feed drive gearing of a well knownform of tabulating machine.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the card feed mechanism showing thesuccessive sensing brush stations.

Fig. 3 is a fragment of a perforated record card Fig. 4 is a detail ofthe contact device settable under control of the cards.

Fig. 5 is a similar view with parts in operated position.

Fig. 6 is an end view of Fig. 4 looking from the right hand side.

Fig. l is a central section through the stroboscopic device.

Fig. 8 is a detail section on line 88 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the right half of Fig. 7, showingthearrangement of the digits about the drum.

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram showing the circuit connections throughwhich the device is associated with the reading brushes of thetabulating machine.

Fig. 11 is a part of the wiring diagram with different plug connectionsand switch setting,

The type of machine to which the present invention is applied is shownand described in detail in Patent No. 1,976,617 granted to C. D. Lake etal. on October 9. 1934 In the machine,.record cards It such as shown inFig. 3 control the operation of calculating which the machine performs.The cards are provided with data receiving columns in which digitrepresenting perforations are made as indicated, the position occupiedby the columnar perforation representing its value. Thus, in Fig. 3 thecard is perforated to represent an Account number" 01389 and an Amount321465.

The cards are arranged in Account number groups and placed in a hopperil (Fig. 1) from which they are fed singly by a picker knife I! to setsof feed rollers l3 which advance the cards past a set of upper sensingbrushes UB and a set of lower sensing brushes LB. In each set there isprovided a separate brush for each card column, which brush makescontact through a perforation with a common contact roller It for theupper set and a roller ii for the lower set.

The ends of the rollers l3 carry gears i6 (Fig. 1) which are driventhrough the usual gearing as shown from a shaft ll through a shaft l8.An eccentric link I! causes reciprocation of the picker and the ratio ofthe gearing is such that shaft ll makes one complete revolution for eachcard advanced past a set of brushes; that is, during one rotation ofshaft l8 a card passes brushes LB and the following card passes brushesUB with the same index point positions on the cards being concurrentlysensed by the two sets of brushes and in the order 9 8, 7, 6, etc.

The operation of the card feeding mechanism may be interrupted in theusual way by automatic or manual means and when the devices come torest, the relative positions of the cards are as shown in Fig. 2 withthe leading margins between the brushes and contact rollers in readinessto sense the "9" hole positions upon resumption of feeding operations.

The arrangement and operation as thus far described are the same as inthe patent referred to. The manner in which the invention is appliedwill now be explained. A plurality of contact setup devices shown inFigs. 4, 5 and 6 are ll'ovidsd, each of which has ten pairs 01' contactsll arranged in columns oi three, there being one pair i'or each oi thedigits. Associated with each pair of contacts is a vertically slidablebar II with a ledge 22 positioned beneath the lower blade of its pair ofcontacts. Each bar II has a tooth it along a common line for cooperationwith a spring urged and pivoted plate 24.

Plvoted to and depending from each bar 2| is a lever II normally held bya spring It in the full line position of Fig. 4. In line with each leverII there is a lilting arm 21 secured to a shaft which may be the shaftll of Fig. l or a shaft geared thereto with a 1:1 ratio. The arms 21 arepositioned about the shaft in the form of a helix and spaced so that theleading edge of the first arm is Just below the lower end 01' itsrelated lever II at the time the corresponding index point position isat the sensing brushes. Specifically, when the .l" index point positionis at the brushes, the arm 21 designated "1" is in the position shown inFig. 4.

It the 1'' position contains a p'erioration in armature II has anupstanding angle ll integral therewith which extends across the levers25 to 0 the circle of action of their related arms 21, and,

the fl arm 21 will engage and raise its lever 25 to the position of Fig.5. As a consequence, bar II is elevated to close contacts and plate Itsnaps under tooth II to retain the bar and contents in shifted position.In a similar manner, each of the arms I! will raise its related leverwhen the sensing of the related hole position causes magnet 28 to becomeenergized. When a second bar II is elevated, the incidental rocking ofplate 24 thereby will release any previously latched bar, so that thecontacts assume the new setting and release the old.

Each lever II has a cam'tooth I2 positioned to engage a fixed rod It asthe lever is raised, to cause it to move out of engagement with its arm21. This rocking or lever 26 through cam tooth 82 also acts against theangle II to restore armature It and permit springs It on the otherlevers to immediately retract them. A notch II in each lever II is inline with angle II when the lever is in its upper position, so that thelever does not interfere with the action 0! the angle in subsequentlymoving the other levers.

In Fig. 10 are shown the circuit connections for controlling three setsof contacts II. Plug connections II are made between three selectedsockets 8| oi the upper brushes U3 and sockets llwiredtomagnetsil.Asacardpassesthe brushes UB. a circuit will be completed in each of thethree columns at the time a hole arrives at the brushes. Buch circuit istraceable from negative side or line 88, through the usual card levercontacts UCL (closed while a card is passing brushes UB). contact rollerll, hole in the card, brush UB, socket a, plug connection It, socket II,magnet II, switch it to positive line II. I! the hole encountered werein the 2 position, contacts II in the "3" position would be latchedclosed. I! the next card passing the upper brushes contains a 5" hole,the same circuitwill be completed when the "5" hole in this card issensed, resulting in the opening of the "2" contacts II and closure ofthe 5" contacts II. It is understood, of course, that each 01' the threesets oi contacts ll shown is separately and independently set inaccordance with the holes sensed by its connected brush U8.

Accordingly, upon any interruption of card feeding, there will be acontact setting which represents the number periorated in the card thatpassed the upper brushes UB Just prior to themterruption ol the feeding.

If it is desirable to have the contacts set in accordance with the valueof the holes in the last card passing the lower brushes prior tointerruption of feeding, the plug connections II are made betweensockets 81 and sockets ll of the lower brushes LB as shown in Fig. 11and switch it is shifted to the position shown. With this change, thelower brushes control the contact setting with the circuits traceablefrom positive side of line I, the usual lower card lever contacts LCL(closed while cards are passing the brushes LB). the usual circuitcontrolling contacts generally designated 42, contact roller l5, hole inthe card, brush LB, socket 4|, connection 35, socket 81, magnet II,switch 3! to negative line 3|.

Thus, the device may be conditioned to respond to either the upper orlower brushes to successively receive and retain the value of selecteddata on each card sensed, the setting for each card superseding that forthe previous card and the setting for the last card sensed prior tointerruption 01' card feeding being retained indefinitely.

Referring now to Figs. '7, 8 and 9, there is keyed the head 52 of a drumor closed cylinder whose opposite head 53 is rotatable upon a bearing 54on a standard 55 secured to base ll. Extending between the heads 52 and53 is a sheet or film of opaque material 51 with translucent figures 0to 9 spaced thereon in parallel lines. A casing or shield Bl enclosesthe drum and this shield has a longitudinal window ll through Within thedrum and in line with each column of figures is a neon bulb or flashlamp CI in a socket 6|, all of which are carried by a name 82, one endof which is supported by a pin 63 extending into a bearing 84 in head52, and the other end of which is locked to the fixed standard '5, so.that the lamps are stationary beneath window 5! while the figures movepast the same. Partitions 85 on frame 62 separate the lamps.

For each ring 01 digits there is a brush structure 66 secured on shaft5! which structure comprises two brushes, electrically connected withone another, one of which cooperates with a common segment 81 while theother contacts successively with individual segments II. In Fig. 10 thebrush structure 86 and the segments 61, 88 are shown diagrammatically.The relationship of the parts is such that, when the digits "0" are atwindow 59, brush it connects the com- ,mon segment 81 with individualsegment I designated "0"; when the digits 1" are at the window, thebrush connects the common segment I! with individual segment "1 and soon.

momentarily illuminated each time a selected digit is at window 59.Repeated momentary illumination will cause the selected digit to appearstationary and constantly illuminated due to the persistence of visionof the observer.

The selection of what digits are to be rendered visible is controlled bythe contacts 20 which, as shown in Fig. 10, are wired to thecorresponding segments 68 so that, if, for example, the "9 contacts inany set are closed, a circuit will be completed each revolution of brush66 at the time the 9 digit appears at window 59. This circuit istraceable .from negative line 38, 9 contact 20, 9 segment 68, brush 86,segment 61, lamp 60 to positive line 40. During each revolution theother sets of contacts 20 will also complete circuits appropriate to thedigits they are set to represent with the net result that the entiremultiple digit number appears in window 59 and, after card feeding hasbeen interrupted, this number will continue to be visible as long asmotor 50 continues to operate or until all contacts 20 are opened.Provision is made for opening all the contacts 20 which comprises alever 10 (Figs. 4, and 6) secured to a rod 1| which has figures I2overhanging the several latch plates 24. Rocking of lever 10 willsimultaneously release all bars 2|, so that all contacts will open.

Motor 50 may be in operation continuously throughout card feedingoperations and the account numbers on the successive cards will appearin succession in window 59. In this connection it may be pointed outthat the cards are generally fed at the rate of 80 or 150 cards a minutedepending upon whether the machine is listing" or accumulating data fromthe cards. With a so-called 16 point cycle machine (in which a point isthe interval between successive hole positions on a card) a holeposition passes the brushes in about of a second for the 80 card perminute speed and in about of a second for the 150 card per minute speed.Thus, the shift in the setting of the contacts 20 is very rapid andresults in only a slight flicker in the illuminated number as it passesfrom one number to another.

The device has great utility in the operation of tabulating equipment,especially in the type of accounting involving the posting of entries onledger sheets. In such use, the cards are arranged in groups accordingto account numbers and the machine is adjusted to stop automaticallywhen the last card of one group and the first card of the next followinggroup have concurrently passed the lower and upper brushes,respectively. At the time of stopping, the window 59 will display theaccount number of the next group about to be fed past the lower brusheswhich control the adding and printing functions of the machine. Thisserves to inform the operator of the next account number and enables himto select from a file the proper ledger sheet and insert it in theprinting section of the machine in readiness to receive thereon the datacontained in the cards of the next group when feeding is resumed.

A further feature of utility lies in the ability to continuously feedcards with the account numbers successively appearing in window 59.whereby the operator upon the appearance of sought-for cards can pressthe stop key and prepare the machine to receive data from any selectedcard or cards.

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to a single modification, itwill be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changesin the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operationmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. It is the intention therefor to be limited onlyas indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An indicating device comprising an opaque cylinder having a pluralityof like rings of translucent characters about its periphery, said ringsbeing arranged in parallel with corresponding characters in the severalrings lying on a common line parallel to the axis of said cylinder, astationary shield with a window therein, said window extending acrossall the rings of characters, a separate flash lamp for each ring, saidlamps being located within the cylinder so that each lamp illuminatesonly its related ring of characters, means for rotating the cylinder ata rate of about sixteen revolutions a second so that in each ring thecharacters appear at the window in rapid succession, with correspondingcharacters in all rings appearing concurrently, a plurality ofselectively settable devices, one for each ring and each settable inaccordance with any character in its related ring, a timing device foreach ring coordinated with said moving means and means controlled bysaid timing devices and said settable devices to cause the repeatedflashing of each lamp when the selected characters in the related ringsare at the common window whereby the several selected characters appearas a single stationary transilluminated line of characters forming acomposite of all the characters.

2. In a machine of the class described, a plurality of pairs ofcontacts, a lever for each, operable to close the related pair ofcontacts, a constantly moving actua'torfor each lever, the separateactuators being arranged to effect operation of their levers insuccession at different predetermined times in their movement, means formoving all the levers into'engaging positions with respect to theiractuatorsat any of said predetermined times, said movement rendering theone of the actuators whose time of effective operation coincides withthe time of movement of the levers, eifective to operate its relatedlever to close the related contacts, and means for moving the selectedlever out of engaging position upon operation thereof.

REYNOLD B. JOHNSON.

